Compact towel dispenser

ABSTRACT

A continuous towel dispenser comprises dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll for feeding a loop of towel from a clean towel supply in a housing to a use position outside of the housing and thence along a return path back into the housing, take-up means in the housing for retracting soiled towel from the return path, and a roll stop assembly including a disc-like cam having a spiral cam surface and a transverse groove thereon and being rotatable with the measuring roll, a cam follower engageable with and movable by the spiral cam surface transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position in the transverse groove, and a stop surface rotatable with the cam and engageable with a stop dog on the cam follower when the cam follower is in its stopping position for thereby halting rotation of the measuring roll, the cam follower being returnable along the transverse groove to the starting position, at which point the stop dog engages an adjustable retainer which defines the variable starting positions; the roll stop assembly is of relatively flat compact construction to minimize the size of the dispenser. There is also provided novel towel breaker structure and cam means for moving in into operative position along closing of the housing.

United States Patent Bahnsen COMPACT TOWEL DISPENSER [72] Inventor: Erwin B. Bahnsen, Oakbrook, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Steiner American Corporation,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 99,039

[52] US. Cl ..312/38 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..312/38; 242/5553 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,891 2/1925 Salmon ..242/55.53 2,425,915 8/1947 Birr ..312/38 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Prangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel [15] 3,684,338 51 Aug. 15,1972

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A continuous towel dispenser comprises dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll for feeding a loop of towel from a clean towel supply in a housing to a use position outside of the housing and thence along a return path back into the housing, take-up means in the housing for retracting soiled towel from the return path, and a roll stop assembly including a disc-like cam having a spiral cam surface and a transverse groove thereon and being rotatable with the measuring roll, a cam follower engageable with and movable by the spiral cam surface transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position in the transverse groove, and a stop surface rotatable with the cam and engageable with a stop dog on the cam follower when the cam follower is in its stopping position for thereby halting rotation of the measuring roll, the cam follower being returnable along the transverse groove to the starting position, at which point the stop dog engages an adjustable retainer which defines the variable starting positions; the roll stop assembly is of relatively flat compact construction to minimize the size of the dispenser. There is also provided novel towel breaker structureand cam means for moving in into operative position along closing of the housing.

33 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDA 1 5 I972 3.684.338

sum 2 0r 5 PATENTEDAUS 15 1912 SHEET 3 OF 6 mvm mg n 7 WWW L PATENTED 3,684,338 j sum u or 6 SHEET 5 IF 6 & 2 2.

PAIENTEuAus 1 5 1972 COMPACT TOWEL DISPENSER The present invention relates generally to improvements in dispensing mechanisms, and specially to improvements in the construction and operation of towel dispensers, which improvements are well adapted for use and incorporation in towel dispensers of the continuous type, wherein the towel is made available to the user in the form of a loop of towel located, in most cases, beneath the dispenser structure.

More particularly, the present invention relates to compact towel dispensers of economical construction and simple operation so as to be suitable for home use.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved compact roll stop mechanism for automatically halting the dispensing operation after a predetermined length of clean towel has been dispensed and, more particularly, to provide a variable roll stop mechanism whereby the predetermined length of towel to be dispensed in each dispensing operation may be varied.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in the housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the ac-- cessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in the housing and coupled to the dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and mounted for rotation with the measuring roll, a cam follower mounted for engagement with the spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of the cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with the cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with the cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage the stop dog to halt the rotation of the cam member when the cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by the spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of the measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to the predetermined distance.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact towel dispenser of the type set forth, wherein said cam member has a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining the spiral cam surface, the cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in the one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting the spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, the cam follower being movable from a starting position to a stopping position disposed in the rectilinear groove during rotation of the cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, engagement of said stop surface with said stop dog under the urging of the pull on the loop of towel by the user serving to hold the cam follower in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user effecting disengagement of the stop surface from the stop dog for accommodating movement of the cam follower along the rectilinear groove from the stopping position to the starting position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact towel dispenser of the type set forth, wherein the starting position of the cam follower is variable, and further including an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with the stop dog when the cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define the starting position, the adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of the cam follower and thereby varying the distance from the starting position to the stopping position, whereby during each dispensing operation the rotation of the measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of the adjustable retaining member.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact towel dispenser of the type set forth which includes a cam member having a spiral cam surface and a rectilinear groove therein and constructed and operating in the manner set forth, and which further includes an adjustable retaining member constructed and operating in the manner set forth.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a stop mechanism for stopping the rotation of an associated roll after a predetermined number of revolutions thereof, the stop mechanism comprising a disclike cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and mounted for rotation with the associated roll, a cam-follower mounted for engagement with the spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of the cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with the cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with the cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage the stop dog to halt the rotation of the cam member when the cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by the spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to the predetermined distance.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a stop mechanism of the type set forth, wherein the cam member is disc-like in shape and has a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining the spiral carn surface, the cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in the one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting the spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, the cam follower being movable from a variable starting position to a stopping position disposed in the rectilinear groove during rotation of the cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, and further including an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with the stop dog when the cam follower is in the starting position thereof thereby defining the starting position, the adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of the cam follower and thereby varying the distance from the starting position to the stopping position, engagement of the stop surface with the stop dog under the urging of the driving force serving to hold the cam follower in the stopping position thereof, removal of the driving force from the associated roll effecting disengagement of the stop surface from the stop dog for accommodating movement of the cam follower along the rectilinear groove from the stopping position to the starting position, movement of the cam follower from the stopping position thereof to the starting position thereof being limited by engagement of the stop dog with the retaining member, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of the adjustable retaining member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path form the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on the housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing the access opening and an open position providing access to the housing through the access opening, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in the housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in the housing and coupled to the dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel bed mounted in the housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel and having a cam follower surface thereon, the towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within the housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom along the exit path when the cover is in the closed position thereof, the towel bed being movable between the dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from the housing when the cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a cam member carried by the cover and engageable with the cam follower surface on the towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when the cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of this invention to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth which includes a towel breaker mounted in the housing and having a first breaker edge thereon disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path for smoothing of the soiled towel to facilitate storage thereof by the take-up means, the towel bed in the dispensing configuration thereof being disposed in engagement with the towel breaker and having a second breaker edge thereon disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path and cooperating with the first breaker edge for smoothing the soiled towel when the towel bed is in the dispensing configuration thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a towel dispenser of the type set forth, which further includes a cam member having a spiral cam surface and a rectilinear groove therein and constructed and operating in the manner set forth, and which further includes an adjustable retaining member constructed and operating in the manner set forth.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the compact towel dispenser whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood with reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the towel dispenser of the present invention, with the position of the accessible portion of the towel loop being illus trated in phantom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. I, and illustrating the towel dispensing and take-up apparatus in the towel dispensing cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged front elevational view of the dispensing unit of the present invention with the dispenser housing removed;

FIG. 4 is a reduced fragmentary side elevational view of the dispensing unit of FIG. 3, as viewed from the left-.

hand side of FIG. '3, and illustrating the sprocket and chain drive means interconnecting the measuring roll and the take-up drive roll:

FIG. 5 is a reduced side elevational view of the dispensing unit of FIG. 3, as viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, and illustrating the cooperation between the measuring roll and the spiral cam member; I

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the roll stop assembly shown in FIG. 5 with a portion of the cam follower plate broken away to more clearly show the spiral cam member, and illustrating the roll stop assembly in the starting configuration thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, and illustrating the roll stop assembly midway between the starting configuration and the stopping configuration thereof;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, and illustrating the roll stop assembly of the present invention in the stopping configuration thereof;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front elevational view of the towel dispenser of the present invention, with the front cover thereof in the closed position and having portions thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the latch mechanisms for holding the front cover in the open and closed positions thereof;

FIG. 1 l is a side elevational view of the towel dispenser of FIG. 10, as viewed from the left-hand side thereof, and illustrating the latching and releasing positions of the bottom latch members;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the towel dispenser of FIG. 10, as viewed from the right-hand side thereof; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the towel dispenser of FIG. 10, with the front cover thereof shown latched in the open position thereof.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 10 through 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated a towel dispenser, generally designated by the numeral 100, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The towel dispenser is generally rectangularin shape and'includes a channel-shaped rear casing, generally designated by the numeral 110, which has a flat rear wall 111 and a pair of relatively short side walls 112 and 114 respectively integral with the opposite side edges of the rear wall 111 and extending forwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto. In use, the rear casing 110 is adapted to be mounted with the rear wall 11 1 disposed flush against a suitable upstanding wall or other mounting surface 119, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 13, with the side walls 1 12 and l 14 disposed substantially vertically. The side wall 112 has a rectangular notch 118 formed therein intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof for a purpose to be described below, the side wall 112 also being provided with a generally rectangular pivot projection 113 integral with the upper end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom. Similarly, a generally trapezoidal shaped pivot projection 115 is integral with the upper end of the side wall 114 and extends upwardly therefrom. A latch pin 116 extends laterally outwardly from the pivot projection 115 adjacent to the front edge thereof, while two latch pins 117 respectively extend laterally outwardly from the side walls 112 and 114 adjacent to the bottom ends thereof, all for a purpose to be explained more fully hereinafter.

The towel dispenser 100 is also provided with a front cover or door, generally designated by the numeral 120, the cover 120 preferably being formed integrally of a single piece of material and comprising a flat front wall 121, a top wall 122 and a pair of opposed side walls, 123 all interconnected by rounded top comers 122a. The top wall 122 and the side walls 123 extend rearwardly from the adjacent edges of the front wall 121 substantially normal thereto. Each of the side walls 123 is provided at the bottom end thereof with an inwardly curving corner portion 123a, the inner ends of the corner portions 123a being spaced 'apart a predetermined distance greater than the width of an associated towel web 102 to be dispensed from the dispenser 100 for thereby defining a dispensing opening therein. Respectively integral with the corner portions 123a at the inner edges thereof and extending vertically upwardly therefrom are two cam members 124, each provided with a downwardly and rearwardly sloping arcuate cam surface 124a along the upper edge thereof. Respectively secured to the inner surfaces of the top comers 122a are two bearing brackets, generally designated by the numeral 125. The bearing brackets 125 are formed as mirror images of each other, each of the brackets 125 including upper and lower attachment flanges 126 secured to the inner surface of the adjacent comers 122a, as by welding, and a generally vertically extending bearing flange 127.

The front cover 120 is so dimensioned as to fit over the front of the rear casing 110, with the side walls 123 of the cover 120 respectively spaced a predetermined distance outwardly of the side wall 112 and 114 of the rear casing 110, and with the top wall 122 and the bottom corner portion 123a of the housing 120 respectively extending above and below the upper and lower extremeties of the rear casing 110. Two pivot pins 128 respectively extend through complementary openings in-the bearing flanges 127 of the bearing brackets 125 and the pivot projections 113 and 115 for pivotally mounting the front cover 120 on the rear casing 110, spacers 129 being provided in surrounding relationship 6 with the pivot pins 128 for spacing the pivot projections 113 and from the adjacent bearing flanges 127, as

. is best illustrated in FIG. 10.

A door opening latch member, generally designated by the numeral 130, is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the inner surface of the right hand one of the bearing flanges 127, as viewed in FIG. 10, by means of a pivot pin 131 disposed forwardly ofthe adjacent pivot pin 128. The latch member 130 includes a flat upper plate 132 and a flat lower plate 134 disposed substantially parallel to the upper plate 132 and offset inwardly a slight distance therefrom and connected thereto by an inclined median flange 133. Projecting laterally outwardly from the bottom plate 134 adjacent to the lower end thereof is a generally U-shaped channel portion 135, having a hook 136 extending rearwardly therefrom. Another hook 137 is formed along the bottom end of the bottom plate 134 forwardly of the channel portion 135.

In use, when the front cover is disposed in the closed position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 12, the latch member hangs vertically downwardly from the pivot pin 131. As the front cover is pivoted upwardly toward the open position thereof illustrated in FIG. 13, the pivot pin 131 and the attached latching member 130 will move upwardly an rearwardly with the front cover 120 until the latch member 130 engages the latch pin 116. The latch member 130 and latch pin 116 are so constructed and arranged that when the latch member 130 engages the latch pin 116, the latch member 130 will have been sufficiently raised so that the latch pin 116 engages the rear edge 138 of the bottom plate 134. As the lifting of the front cover 120 continues, the latch pin 116 will ride along the edge 138 of the bottom plate 134, thereby raising the lower end of the latch member 130. When the front cover 120 has been raised sufficiently to place the channel portion of the latch member 130 in alignment with the latch pin 116, the latch pin 116 will enter the channel portion 135, thereby permitting the latch member 130 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13. However, when the latch member 130 has pivoted a short distance sufficient for the latch pin 116 to clear the channel portion 135, the hook 137 falls into engagement with the latch pin 116 for halting the pivotal movement of the latch member 130. At this point, the front cover may be released and the latch member 130 and the front cover 120 will be supported in the open position thereof upon the latch pin 116.

When it is desired to lower the front cover 120 to the closed position thereof, it is necessary only to lift the front cover 120 a slight distance sufficient to disengage the hook 137 from the latch pin 116, after which the front cover 120 will be lowered. When the hook 137 is disengaged from the latch pin 116, the latch member 130 will fall away and pivot counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 13, until it abuts against the adjacent spacer 129. As the front cover 120 is lowered, the front edge 139 of the bottom plate 134 of the latch member 130 will fall forwardly, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13, into engagement with the latch pin 116, and will ride therealong. The inclined median flange 133 between the upper and lower plates 132 and 134 accommodates passage of the latch member 130 forwardly of the latch pin 116 and back to the free the latch pin 116.

Respectively pivotally secured to the side walls 123 of the front cover 120, adjacent to the bottom ends thereof, are two latch members 145. Each of the latch members 145 is pivotally movable about a mounting screw 148 by which the latch member 145 is secured to the adjacent side wall 123, the latch member 145 extending rearwardly from the mounting screw 148 a slight distance beyond the rear edge of the adjacent side wall 123. Each of the latch members 145 is provided with a notch 145a in the lower edge thereof, adapted for receiving therein the adjacent one of the latch pins 117 when the front cover 120 is in the closed position thereof, for thereby latching the front cover 120 in its closed position. Extending laterally outwardly from the rear end of the latch member 145 beyond the adjacent side wall 123 is an inclined lift tab 149 readily accessible to a user. In order to unlatchthe front cover 120 and raise it from its closed position, it is necessary only to lift each of the latch members 145 by means of the lift tabs 149 until the latch members 145 are disengaged from the latch pins 117, after which the front cover may be raised all in the same motion.

Referring now also to F IGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a dispensing until generally designated by the numeral 140, for removable mounting within the rear casing 110 of the dispenser 100. The dispensing unit 140 includes a pair of upstanding spaced-apart substantially parallel side plates 141 respectively mounted adjacent to the inner surface of the side walls 112 and 114 of the rear case 110. More particularly, each of the side plates 141 includes an attachment flange 142 integral with and extending inwardly from the rear edge of the side plate 141 substantially normal thereto, the attachment flanges 142 being disposed in use flush against the rear wall 111 of the rear case 1 l and secured thereto by suitable fasteners such as screws 142a (see FIG. Extending outwardly from each of the side plates 141 are two annular bearing flanges 143, respectively disposed about complementary circularopenings through the side plate 141, the openings in each of the side plates 141 being disposed in horizontal alignment with those in the other side plate 141. Extending downwardly and rearwardly into each of the side plates 141 from the upper edge thereof is an elongated slot 144 for a purpose to be explained more fully below, In addition, each of the side plates 141 has formed therein adjacent to the front edge thereof an irregular shaped slot or opening 146, the purpose of which will be described below. Secured to each of the side plates 141 adjacent to the slot 146 and extending thereinto is a slot support member 147.

Extending between the side plates 141 adjacent to the lower ends thereof is an arcuate towel bed, generally designated by the numeral 150. Respectively integral with the opposite side edges of the towel bed 150 and extending radially inwardly therefrom are two mounting flanges 151 respectively disposed along the inner surface of the adjacent side plate 141 and pivotally secured thereto by means of pivot pins 152. The towel bed is provided along the upper rear end thereof with an arcuate breaker flange terminating in a rear breaker edge 156, the breaker flange 15S having rectangular notches 157 respectively formed in the opposite side edges thereof (see FIG. 3). ln use, the towel bed 150 is pivotally movable between a dispensing position, illustrated in the drawings, and a loading position (not shown), for accommodating therein a clean towel supply roll 105.

Extending between the side plates 141 adjacent to the front ends thereof and above the towel bed 150 is a substantially horizontally disposed measuring roll 160, the opposite ends of the measuring roll 160 being respectively received in adjacent ones of the bearings 143 in the side plates 141 for rotation therein. The circumferential outer surface of the measuring roll 160 is covered with an abrasive covering 164 to provide better frictional engagement with the towel web 102, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Extending axially through the measuring roll 160 and secured thereto is a tie rod or roller shaft 161 having a screw head at one end thereof and being threadedly engaged at the other end thereof with a lock nut 163.

Disposed slightly above and forwardly of the measuring roll 160 and parallel thereto is a pinch roll 165, being provided at the opposite ends thereof with stub shafts 166 respectively receivable in the adjacent ones of the irregular slots 146 in the side plates 141. Normally, the stub shafts 166 will ride in the bottom of the slots 146, the outer surface 167 of the pinch roll being normally urged by gravity into engagement with the abrasive surface 164 on the measuring roll 160.

Also extending between the side plates 141 a slight distance above and rearwardly of the measuring roll 160 and parallel thereto is a take-up drive roll 170, the opposite ends of the take-up drive roll 170 being respectively received in adjacent ones of the bearings .143 in the side plates 141 for rotation therein. Extending axially through the take-up drive roll 1 70 and secured thereto is a tie rod or roll shaft 171 provided with a screw head at one end thereof and being threadedly engaged at the other end thereof with a lock nut 173. The circumferential outer surface of the takeup drive roll 170 is covered with an abrasive covering 174 to provide improved frictional engagement with the towel web 103 in a manner to be described.

Also extending between the side plates 141 above the take-up drive roll 170 and substantially parallel thereto is a take-up roll 175 provided at the opposite ends thereof with stub shafts 176 respectively receivable in the elongated slots 144 in the side plates 141, the stub shafts 176 having a diameter slightly less than the width of the slots 144 to readily permit movement of the take-up roll 175 upwardly along the slots 144 for removal of the roll 175 from the dispensing unit 140, the stub shafts 176 normally lying in the arcuate bottom ends of the slots 144.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that two sprockets 180 are respectively secured to the left-hand ends of the measuring roll 160 and the take-up drive roll 170, as viewed in FIG. 3. Preferably, each of the rolls 160 and 170 is provided at the end thereof with projecting lugs (not shown) receivable in corresponding notches in the sprockets 180 for insuring positive rotation of the sprockets 180 and the rolls 160 and 170, the sprockets 180 being secured in place by the lock nuts 163 and 173. Interconnecting the sprockets 180 is a roller chain 182 for translating the rotational movement of the measuring roll 160 to the take-up drive roll 170 for a purpose to be explained below.

Extending between the side plates 141 immediately below the measuring roll 160 and closely adjacent thereto is a part-cylindrical guard plate 185, preferably provided with mounting tabs (not shown) at the opposite ends thereof respectively received in corresponding slots in the side plates 141 for securing the guard plate 185 in place. Also extending between the side plates 141 immediately above the pinch roll 165 in the normal operating position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 is a guard plate 190. The guard plate 190 is provided at the rear end thereof with mounting tabs 191 respectively pivotally secured by cooperating pivot pins to the adjacent side plates 141 for accommodating pivotal movement of the guard plate 190. The front end 192 of the guard plate 190 extends over the pinch roll I65 and is shaped conformably therewith and in use normally rests upon the pinch roll 165 of the portion of the towel web 102 extending thereover as will be explained below.

Extending between the side plates 141 adjacent to the rear edges thereof is an inclined towel breaker plate, generally designated by the numeral 195, the breaker plate 195 including a pair of forwardly and upwardly extending mounting arms 196 at the opposite ends thereof, respectively secured to the side walls 141 by suitable means such as complementary tabs and slots. The front edge 199 of the breaker plate 195 is disposed substantially horizontally and is adapted for engagement with the towel web 102 in a manner which will be described. When the towel bed 150 is disposed in its dispensing position, illustrated in FIG. 2, the arcuate breaker flange 155 thereof is disposed in engagement with the breaker plate 195 between the mounting arms 196, the breaker edge 156 being disposed above the breaker edge 199 for cooperation therewith in a manner to be explained below.

In operation, the dispenser 100 is loadedby moving the front cover 120 to the open position thereof illustrated in FIG. 13, and then pivoting the towel bed 150 forwardly, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, to a loading configuration (not shown). At this point a roll 105 of clean towel may be inserted in the towel bed 150. The leading end of the towel web 102 is pulled upwardly in front of the measuring roll 160 and then behind and around the pinch roll 165 along an exit path 101. To facilitate this threading operation, the pinch roll 165 may be moved upwardly along the slots 146 and placed in a holding position with the stub shafts 166 engaged in spurs 146a of the slots 146, thereby freeing both hands of the user for performing the threading operation. Also, it will be noted that it will be necessary to pivot the guard plate 190 back out of the way to accomplish this threading operation. The leading end of the towel web 102 is then passed downwardly beneath the bottom of the towel bed 150 to form a loop 103 accessible to a user, and then back upwardly therebehind to the take-up roll 175. The

leading end of the towel web 102 is wound into a coil 109 upon the take-up roll 175 and the loop 103 below the towel bed 150 is adjusted to a predetermined desired length. After this, the pinch roll 165 is returned to its operative position, illustrated in FIG. 2 for pinching the towel web 102 between the measuring roll 160 and the pinch roll 165. The guard plate 190 is returned to its position on top of the pinch roll 165, in which position it will serve to protect the portion of the clean towel web 102 disposed along the exit path 101.

The front cover 120 of the dispenser may now be lowered to its closed position in the manner described above. Preferably, the towel bed 150 will have first been pivoted back to its dispensing configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, but in any event, movement of the towel bed 150 back to its dispensing configuration is insured by the present invention. Thus, as the front cover moves into its closed position, the cam surfaces 1240 of the cam members 124 will engage the outer surface of the towel bed which serves as a cam follower surface, for thereby effecting a cammed movement of the towel bed 150 back to its dispensing configuration with the arcuate breaker flange thereof in engagement with the breaker plate 195. It will be noted that in this dispensing configuration, the breaker edge 156 is in engagement with the towel web 102 along the return path 107 thereof and cooperates with the breaker edge 199, which also engages the towel web 102 a slight distance below the breaker edge 156, for smoothing the soiled towel web to facilitate winding and storage thereof on the take-up roll 175. It will be noted that, when the front cover 120 is latched in its closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cam surfaces l24a will hold the towel bed 150 in its dispensing When a user desires to dispense clean towel from the dispenser 100, he simply pulls downwardly on the front portion of the exposed loop 103 of the towel web 102 and withdraws a length of clean towel web from the roll 105. This withdrawal of the towel web 102 causes a clockwise rotation of the measuring roll 160, which in turn effects a corresponding clockwise rotation of the take-up drive roll by means of the chain 182 and sprockets 180, all as viewed in FIG. 2. Thus, the rotation of the take-up drive roll 170, which is in frictional engagement with the portion of the coil 109 wound upon the take-up roll 75, will serve to frictionally drive the take-up roll in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, for retracting from the loop 103 and storing on the take-up roll 175 a length of towel web 102 substantially equal to that which was dispensed form the supply roll 105.

It is an important feature of this invention to provide novel roll stop apparatus coupled to the measuring roll 160 for limiting the rotation thereof during each dispensing operation, so that only a limited predetermined length of clean towel may be dispensed during any one dispensing operation. Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 through 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated a roll stop assembly, generally designated by the numeral 200, constructed in accordance and embodying the features of the present invention. The roll stop assembly 200 includes a disc-like cam member, generally designated by the numeral 210, including a flat main configuration during the operation of the dispenser plate 211 provided with a pair of bearing flanges (not shown) extending rearwardly therefrom centrally thereof, and adapted to be received within the adjacent end of the measuring roll 160. Formed in the front surface of the main plate 211 of the cam member 210is a spiral groove 214, having an inner end adjacent to the center of the main plate 211 and terminating in an outer end at the periphery of the main plate 211. The spiral groove 214 may have any desired number of turns, but preferably includes three such complete turns, which are separated and defined by the coils of a spiral ridge 213, which provides a camming surface for a purpose to be described more fully below. Extending radially outwardly from the center of the main plate 211 and intersecting the spiral groove 214 transversely thereof is a rectilinear groove 215 which extends between the inner and outer ends of the spiral groove 214. In use, the mounting flanges of the cam member 210 are telescopically received within the right-hand end of the measuring roll 160, as viewed in FIG. 6. The cam member 210 is held in place on the measuring roll 160 by the tie rod 161 which extends through a complementary opening centrally disposed through the cam plate 210, with the head end of the tie rod 161 bearing against the front face of the cam member 210 adjacent to the inner end of the spiral groove 214.

A cam stop member 220 is disposed between the main plate 211 of the cam member 210 and a bearing 143a in the associated bearing flange 143 for the measuring roll 160, the cam stop member 220 having notches 221 formed in the opposite side edges thereof for accommodating therein the mounting flanges of the cam plate 210 as well as a pair of lugs212 extending outwardly from the end of the measuring roll 160, for thereby firmly holding the cam stop member 220 in place between the cam member 210 and the adjacent end of the measuring roll 160 for rotation therewith. The cam stop member 220 is provided with a stop tip 225, which in the assembled position illustrated in FIG. 6, extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the cam member 210. The tip 225 is provided with a pair of stop surfaces 226 converging outwardly toward the outer end of the tip 225.

Pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the righthand one of the side plates 141, as viewed in FIG. 3, by means of a mounting screw 232, is a cam follower plate, generally designated by the numeral 230. The cam follower plate 230 includes a rear portion 231 disposed substantially'parallel to the side plate 141 and a front portion 233 disposed substantially parallel to the rear portion 231 but offset outwardly therefrom a distance sufficient to clear the cam member 210. An arcuate notch 234 is formed in the upper edge of the cam follower plate 230, intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, for accommodating therein an end cap 172a covering the adjacent end of the take-up drive roll 170 to permit pivotal movement of the cam plate 230, as will be described below. Integral with the upper front end of the front portion 233 of the cam follower plate 230, and extending inwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto toward the side plate 141, is a short cam follower flange or lug 235 having a length substantially equal to the depth of the spiral groove 214 in the cam member 210. The cam follower lug 235 is dimensioned to be accommodated in the spiral groove 214 of the cam plate 210 for camming engagement with the spiral ridge 213 during rotation of the cam plate 210, as will be described below. Integral with the bottom front end of the front portion 233 of the cam follower plate 230, and extending inwardly therefrom substantially normal to the cam follower lug 235 is a roller stop dog 236, the stop dog 236 extending inwardly beyond the inner surface of the main plate 21 1 of the cam member 210. The stop dog 236 is spaced from the cam follower lug 235 by a distanceslightly greater than the maximum width of the cam member 210, so that when the cam follower plate 230 is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cam follower lug 235 and the stop dog 236 will cooperate to bracket the cam member 210 therebetween.

Secured to the right-hand one of the side plates 141, as viewed in FIG. 3, directly below the cam plate 210 is an adjustable retaining member, generally designated by the numeral 240, the retaining member 240 including an elongated generally rectangular main plate 241 disposed parallel to the side plate 141, and having a vertically extending elongated slot 242 therein for receiving therethrough a set screw 243 for securing the retaining member 240 to the side plate 141, the elongated slot 242 permitting vertical adjustment of the position of the retaining member'240, extending inwardly from the bottom end of the main plate 241 is a short ratchet pawl 244 adapted to be received in and cooperate with corresponding ratchet detents 246 in the side plate 141 to permit positive location of the retaining member 240 in any of several vertical positions, respectively corresponding to the ratchets detents 246. Integral with the upper end of the main plate 241 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto is a stop flange 245 for retaining the downward movement of the cam follower plate 230 in a manner to be described below. If desired, a pair of guide beads or projections 248 may be provided in the side plate 141 for receiving the retaining member 240 therebetween, thereby providing a guidetrack to maintain the retaining member 240 in the vertical orientation illustrated in FIG. 5.

In operation, the cam member 210 is initially oriented with the rectilinear groove 215 therein extending vertically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and the cam follower plate 230 is pivoted downwardly, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, the cam follower lug 235 passing downwardly along the rectilinear groove 215 until it is aligned adjacent to the inner end of the spiral groove 214. The retaining member 240 will be so positioned on the side plate 141 that when the cam follower plate 230 is disposed in the starting position thereof described above and illustrated in FIG. 7, the stop dog 236 thereof will rest upon the stop flange 245 of the retaining member 240. The stop tip 225 of the cam stop member 220 extends vertically downwardly beyond the periphery of the cam plate 210.

When a user pulls upon the exposed loop 103 of the towel web 102 for dispensing clean towel from the cabinet 100, the measuring roll 160, as well as the cam plate 210 and the cam stop member 220 which are secured to the measuring roll 160, all rotate together in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7. As this clockwise rotation of the cam plate 210 begins, the cam follower lug 235 will enter the inner end of the spiral groove 214 and move into camming engagement with the spiral cam surface formed by the spiral ridge 213. As the clockwise rotation of the cam plate 210 continues, the cam follower lug 235 will follow the spiral cam ridge 213, whereby the cam follower lug 235 and the cam follower plate 230 will be moved pivotally in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, about the mounting screw 232. This pivotal movement of the cam follower plate 230 will continue until the cam follower lug 235 has reached the outer end of the spiral groove 214. At this point, illustrated in FIG. 9, the leading stop surface 226 of the stop member 220.will move into engagement with the stop dog 236,'which has been moved into the path of the stop tip 225 by the upward pivotal movement of the cam follower plate 230. The engagement of the top surface 226 with the stop dog 236 halts the rotation of the cam plate 210, with the parts of the roll stop assembly 200 all disposed in a stopping configuration illustrated in FIG. 9. In this stopping configuration, the cam plate 210 is disposed in a stopping position substantially identical to the starting position thereof, with the rectilinear groove 215 therein disposed substantially vertically. The cam follower plate 230 is disposed in its uppermost position, with the arcuate notch 234 thereof accommodating the end cap 172a therein, and with the cam follower lug 235 disposed in the rectilinear groove 215 adjacent to the outer end thereof.

The parts of the roll stop assembly 200 will be held in this stopping configuration by the engagement of the stop surface 226 with the stop dog 236 as long as a dispensing pull is exerted on the towel web 102 by the user. When this pull is released, after the rotation of the measuring roll 160 is stopped by the halting of the rotation of the cam plate 210, the rotational force on the stop member 220 will be removed, thereby permitting the stop dog 236 to slide downwardly along the stop surface 226. Thus the cam follower plate 230 will fall downwardly, pivoting in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, this downward movement being accommodated by passage of the cam follower lug 235 vertically downwardly along the rectilinear groove 215. This downward pivotal movement of the cam follower plate 230 will be halted by engagement of the stop dog 236 with the retaining flange 245 on the retaining member 240 when the cam follower plate 230 has returned to its starting position. At this point, another dispensing operation may be initiated by the user.

It will be appreciated that by adjusting the position of the retaining member vertically upwardly, the starting position of the cam follower plate 230 may also be adjusted upwardly, so that the cam follower lug 235 is initially positioned in any of the other turns of the spiral groove 214, for thereby reducing the number of revolutions through which the cam plate 210 must rotate before reaching its stopping position thereof, described above. Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, wherein the spiral groove 214 includes three complete turns, the parts of the roll stop assembly 200 may be positioned in three different starting configurations, respectively accommodating three revolutions, two revolutions, or one revolution of the cam plate 210 and the measuring roll 260 during each dispensing operation. Thus, the length of towel web 102 which is dispensed during each dispensing operation may be selectively varied among any of three different lengths, respectively corresponding to one, two, or three times the circumference of the measuring roll 160.

Referring now also to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the overall operation of the towel dispenser during a dispensing operation will be described in detail. After the dispenser 100 has been loaded with a supply roll 105 of clean towel and the towel web 102 thereof has been threaded through the dispenser apparatus, in the manner described above, the towel web 102 and the parts of the towel dispenser 100 will be disposed and arranged as illustrated in FIG. 2. More particularly, the front cover of the dispenser 100 will be latched in its closed position, and the towel bed will be held in its dispensing configuration, with the breaker edge 156 thereof disposed in engagement with the towel web 102 in the return path 107 thereof, by the urging of the cam surfaces 124a against the bottom of the towel bed 150. The roll stop assembly 200 will be disposed in the selected starting configuration thereof, which for purposes of illustration will be assumed to be that illus trated in FIG. 7.

When a user desires to dispense a length of clean towel web 102, he pulls downwardly on the front portion of the exposed loop 103 in the manner described above, thereby urging the pinch roll downwardly for causing the towel 102 to frictionally rotate the measuring roll 160 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. This clockwise rotation of the measuring roll 160 will effect, through the sprockets 180 and the roller chain 182, a corresponding clockwise rotation of the take-up drive roll 170, as viewed in FIG. 2. The abrasive covering 174 on the take-up drive roll is disposed in frictional engagement with the coil 109 of soiled towel wound on the take-up roll 175, whereby the clockwise rotation of the take-up drive roll 170 effects a corresponding counterclockwise rotation of the take-up roll 175, as viewed in FIG. 2. This rotation of the take-up roll 175 serves to retract from the return path 107 a length of soiled towel web substantially equal to the length of theclean towel web dispensed during the dispensing operation, for thereby maintaining the length of the exposed loop 103 substantially constant. As the soiled towel is retracted onto the coil 109 thereof, it is drawn over the breaker edges 156 and 199 which cooperate to smooth the soiled towel and facilitate the storage thereof on the coil 109. It will be noted, that the stub shafts 176 of the take-up roll 175 are freely movable along the slots 144 in the side plates 141, for thereby accommodating an upward movement of the take-up roll 175 as the diameter of the coil 109 of soiled towel wound thereon increases.

As the measuring roll 160 rotates during the dispensing operation, under the urging of the pull on the exposed portion of the towel web by the user, the cam plate 210 will rotate in the manner described above, for thereby effecting a cammed movement of the cam follower lug 235 and the cam follower plate 230 from the starting position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 7, to the stopping position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 9. When the parts of the roll stop assembly 200 have arrived in the stopping configuration thereof, illustrated in FIG. 9, the rotation of the cam plate 210 and the measuring roll 160 will be stopped by the engagement' of the stop surface 226 with the stop lug 236, as was described above. When the user releases his pull on the towel web 102 in order to dry his hands, the release of the tension in the towel web 102 will permit the cam follower plate to drop back to its starting position, with the cam follower lug 235 falling down through the rectilinear groove 215 until the stop dog 236 engages the retaining flange 245, as was described above. At this point the towel dispenser 100 is ready for another dispensing operation.

Should it be desired to vary the length of towel web 102 which is dispensed during each dispensing operation, it is necessary only to move the front cover 120 of the dispenser 100 to the open position thereof, illustrated in FIG. 13, and then make a simple vertical adjustment of the position of the retaining member 240, which adjustment can be made with an ordinary screwdriver. in this connection, it will be noted that the retaining member 240 is located in a clearly visible and readily accessible position on the side plate 141 ad jacent to the front end thereof, for simple and easy adjustment.

When the supply roll 105 of clean towel has been exhausted, the take-up roll 175 and the coil 109 of soiled towel wound thereon may be readily removed from the towel dispenser 100 by simply opening the front cover 120 and lifting the take-up roll 175 upwardly along the slots 144 until it clears the side plates 141. At this time, a new take-up roll 175 is inserted and a fresh supply of clean towel may be loaded into the towel bed 150 and threaded through the dispensing unit 140 in the manner described above.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the construction of the towel dispenser is such as to provide a small, compact dispenser which is suitable for home use. in this connection, it is significant that the disc-like cam member 210 permits a relatively flat construction of the roll stop assembly 200, no part of which extends more than a fraction of an inch laterally outwardly of the adjacent side plate 141. Thus, the width of the towel dispenser 100 is minimized. [n a typical constructional example of the towel dispenser 100, the front cover 120 thereof will have an overall width of approximately 32 centimeters and an overall height of approximately 31 centimeters, the towel dispenser 100 being capable of dispensing a towel web 102 having a width of about 9 inches.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 11 and 12 of the drawings, it

will be noted that the rear casing 110 has a width and height substantially smaller than the width and height of the front cover 120. Furthermore, it will be noted that the pivot projections 113 and 115 are disposed toward the front edges of the side walls 112 and 114, and the pivot pins 128 are so positioned with respect to the side walls 123 of the front cover 120, that when the front cover 120 is disposed in its closed position, the rear edges of the side walls 123 thereof will be disposed well forwardly of the rear wall 111 of the rear casing 110. Thus, the small rear casing 110 will be visible behind the closed front cover 120, and will normally be painted a dark color while the front cover is painted a contrasting light color, to thereby enhance the diminutive appearance of the towel dispenser 100.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided a small, compact towel dispenser of economical construction and simple operation which is well suited for home use. More particularly, there has been provided a novel roll stop assembly of extremely compact construction which contributes significantly to the overall compactness of the towel dispenser.

There has also been provided a towel dispenser wherein the roll stop assembly includes a novel spiral cam, and mechanism for selectively adjusting the roll stop assembly, to provide dispensing of any of three different lengths of towel web during each dispensing operation.

Finally, there has been provided a towel dispenser with novel towel breaker apparatus therein which is automatically moved into operating position upon the closing of the front cover of the towel dispenser.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a, slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance while the size of said housing is minimized.

2. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll.

3. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll, said cam follower being movable by said spiral cam surface along a predetermined path in said plane.

4. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is coupled to said measuring roll coaxially therewith.

5. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop member is coupled to said cam member for rotation therewith.

6. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower.

7. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the ac cessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, engagement of said stop surface with said stop dog under the urging of the pull on the loop of towel by the user serving to hold said cam follower in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after said predetermined number of revolutions while the size of said housing is minimized.

8. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane and is rotatable about a first axis disposed substantially normal to said plane, said cam follower being mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis.

9. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane, said cam follower being movable between the starting position thereof and the stopping position thereof along a generally vertical path in said plane.

10. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.

11. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein the starting position of said cam follower is disposed adjacent to the inner end of said spiral cam surface, and the stopping position of said cam follower is disposed adjacent to the outer end of said spiral cam surface.

12. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said I spiral cam surface, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member while the size of said housing is minimized.

13. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower.

14. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said spiral cam surface comprises a plurality of coils, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in difierent ones of said coils.

15. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said spiral cam surface comprises three coils, said adjustable retaining member being movable among three settings respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in different ones of said coils for thereby accommodating the dispensing of any one of three different lengths of towel during each dispensing operation.

16. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said cam follower comprises a plate disposed substantially parallel to said relatively flat cam member and having a cam follower flange thereon for engagement with said spiral cam surface, said stop dog comprising an abutment flange carried by said plate and spaced from said cam follower flange.

17. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus ineluding a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for-dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rota tion of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, engagement of said stop surface with said stop dog under the urging of the pull on the loop of towel by the user serving to hold said cam follower in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, movement of said cam follower from the stopping position thereof to the starting position thereof being limited by engagement of said stop dog with said retaining member, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member while the size of said housing is minimized.

18. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll.

19. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.

20. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said spiral cam surface comprising three coils and with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, said adjustable retaining member being movable vertically among three different settings respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in different ones of said coils for thereby accommodating the dispensing of any one of three different lengths of towel during each dispensing operation, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.

21. Stop mechanism for stopping the rotation of an associated roll after a predetermined number of revolutions thereof, said stop mechanism comprising a disclike cam memberhaving a spiral cam surface thereon and mounted for rotation with the associated roll, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance.

22. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the associated roll.

23. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower. I

24. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane and is rotatable about a first axis disposed substantially normal to said plane, said cam follower being mounted for rotation about a second axis disposed substantially parallel to said first axis.

25. Stop mechanism for stopping the rotation of an associated roller after a predetermined number of revolutions thereof under the urging of a driving force,

said stop mechanism comprising a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and mounted for rotation with the associated roll, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a 'stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, removal of the driving force from the associated roll effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, movement of said cam follower from the stopping position thereof to the starting position thereof being limited by engagement of said stop dog with said retaining member, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member.

26. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 25, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, removal of the driving force from the associated roll accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.

27. A towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel and having a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said towel bed being movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof on thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.

28. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 27, wherein said cover being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed adjacent to the upper end of said housing, said cam member extending rearwardly from said cover adjacent to the bottom end thereof and extending beneath said housing for engagement with the bottom of said towel bed' when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.

29. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 27, and V further including a pair of spaced-apart cam members carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for balancing the application of camming forces thereto.

30. A towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by the user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel breaker mounted in said housing and having a first breaker edge thereon disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path for smoothing of the soiled towel to facilitate storage thereof by said take-up means, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating a supply of clean towel therein and having a second breaker edge and a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing and in engagement with said breaker member for dispensing a clean towel from said towel bed along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said second breaker edge being disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path and cooperating with said first breaker edge for smoothing the soiled towel when said towel bed is in the dispensing configuration thereof, said towel bed being movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for efiecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when said cover is. moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.

31. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 30, wherein said towel breaker includes a pair of mounting arms for mounting said breaker in said housing, said mounting arms being spaced apart a distance sufficient for accommodating therebetween the towel bed in the dispensing configuration thereof.

movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a first cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof to the dispensing configuration 32. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous I type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing app'aratus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel and having a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said towel bed being thereof when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof, a disc-like second cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said second cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said second cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said second cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog tohalt the rotation of said second cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance while the ii ii i i c iil lil z forth in claim 25, wherein said predetermined number of revolutions is one revolution for one setting of said adjustable retaining member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3.684.338 Dated August 15, 1972 Inventor(s) Erwin B. Bahns en It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 17, Claim '7, line 25 "adJaceut" should be --adjacent-;

Column 22, Claim 27', line 12 "on thereof" should be deleted.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973.

(SEAL) .Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of- Patents FORM FO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-356-334 

1. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance while the size of said housing is minimized.
 2. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll.
 3. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll, said cam follower being movable by said spiral cam surface along a predetermined path in said plane.
 4. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is coupled to said measuring roll coaxially therewith.
 5. The towel dispenser set forth iN claim 1, wherein said stop member is coupled to said cam member for rotation therewith.
 6. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower.
 7. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and being mounted adJacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, engagement of said stop surface with said stop dog under the urging of the pull on the loop of towel by the user serving to hold said cam follower in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after said predetermined number of revolutions while the size of said housing is minimized.
 8. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane and is rotatable about a first axis disposed substantially normal to said plane, said cam follower being mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis.
 9. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane, said cam follower being movable between the starting position thereof and the stopping position thereof along a generally vertical path in said plane.
 10. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.
 11. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 7, wherein the starting position of said cam follower is disposed adjacent to the inner end of said spiral cam surface, and the stopping position of said cam follower is disposed adjacent to the outer end of said spiral cam surface.
 12. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewIth a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member while the size of said housing is minimized.
 13. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower.
 14. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said spiral cam surface comprises a plurality of coils, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in different ones of said coils.
 15. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said spiral cam surface comprises three coils, said adjustable retaining member being movable among three settings respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in different ones of said coils for thereby accommodating the dispensing of any one of three different lengths of towel during each dispensing operation.
 16. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 12, wherein said cam follower comprises a plate disposed substantially parallel to said relatively flat cam member and having a cam follower flange thereon for engagement with said spiral cam surface, said stop dog comprising an abutment flange carried by said plate and spaced from said cam follower flange.
 17. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type comprising a housing having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from a clean towel supply within said housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into said housing, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and being mounted adjacent to one end of sAid measuring roll for rotation therewith, said cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, engagement of said stop surface with said stop dog under the urging of the pull on the loop of towel by the user serving to hold said cam follower in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, movement of said cam follower from the stopping position thereof to the starting position thereof being limited by engagement of said stop dog with said retaining member, whereby in each dispensing operation the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member while the size of said housing is minimized.
 18. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of said measuring roll.
 19. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.
 20. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said spiral cam surface comprising three coils and with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, said adjustable retaining member being movable vertically among three different settings respectively locating the starting position of said cam follower in different ones of said coils for thereby accommodating the dispensing of any one of three different lengths of towel during each dispensing operation, release of the pull on the loop of towel by the user accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.
 21. Stop mechanism for stopping the rotation of an associated roll after a predetermined number of revolutions thereof, said stop mechanism comprising a disc-like cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and mounted for rotation with the associated roll, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance.
 22. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the associated roll.
 23. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said stop dog comprises an abutment flange on said cam follower.
 24. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 21, wherein said cam member is disposed in a predetermined plane and is rotatable about a first axis disposed substantially normal to said plane, said cam follower being mounted for rotation about a second axis disposed substantially parallel to said first axis.
 25. Stop mechanism for stopping the rotation of an associated roller after a predetermined number of revolutions thereof under the urging of a driving force, said stop mechanism comprising a disc-like cam member having a spiral groove formed in one face thereof for defining a spiral cam surface and mounted for rotation with the associated roll, said cam member having a rectilinear groove formed in said one face thereof extending transversely of and intersecting said spiral groove from the inner end to the outer end thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof from a variable starting position to a stopping position disposed in said rectilinear groove during rotation of said cam member through a predetermined number of revolutions, a stop dog carried by said cam follower and movable therewith, an adjustable retaining member mounted for engagement with said stop dog when said cam follower is in the starting position thereof to thereby define said starting position, said adjustable retaining member being movable among a plurality of settings for varying the starting position of said cam follower and thereby varying the distance from said starting position to said stopping position, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said cam member when said cam follower has been moved to the stopping position thereof by said spiral cam surface, removal of the driving force from the associated roll effecting disengagement of said stop surface from said stop dog for accommodating movement of said cam follower along said rectilinear groove from said stopping position to said starting position, movement of said cam follower from the stopping position thereof to the starting position thereof being limited by engagement of said stop dog with said retaining member, whereby the rotation of the associated roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions which varies with the setting of said adjustable retaining member.
 26. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 25, wherein said cam member is disposed in a substantially vertical plane with said rectilinear groove extending substantially vertically when said cam follower is in the stopping position thereof, removal of the driving force from the associated roll accommodating dropping of said cam follower to the starting position thereof along said rectilinear groove under the urging of gravity.
 27. A towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel and having a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said towel bed being movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof on thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.
 28. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 27, wherein said cover being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed adjacent to the upper end of said housing, said cam member extending rearwardly from said cover adjacent to the bottom end thereof and extending beneath said housing for engagement with the bottom of said towel bed when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.
 29. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 27, and further including a pair of spaced-apart cam members carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for balancing the application of camming forces thereto.
 30. A towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing apparatus mounted in said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by the user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel breaker mounted in said housing and having a first breaker edge thereon disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path for smoothing of the soiled towel to facilitate storage thereof by said take-up means, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating a supply of clean towel therein and having a second breaker edge and a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing and in engagement with said breaker member for dispensing a clean towel from said towel bed along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said second breaker edge being disposed in engagement with the soiled towel along the return path and cooperating with said first breaker edge for smoothing the soiled towel when said towel bed is in the dispensing configuration thereof, said towel bed being movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof.
 31. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 30, wherein said towel breaker includes a pair of mounting arms for mounting said breaker in said housing, said mounting arms being spaced apart a distance sufficient for accommodating therebetween the towel bed in the dispensing configuration thereof.
 32. A compact towel dispenser of the continuous type, comprising a housing having an access opening therein and having associated therewith a loop of towel that extends along an exit path from the housing to an exposed position accessible to a user and thence along a return path into the housing, a cover mounted on said housing adjacent to said access opening for movement between a closed position closing said access opening and an open position providing access to said housing through said access opening, towel dispensing apparatus including a measuring roll rotatably mounted in said housing for dispensing a predetermined length of clean towel into the loop along the exit path when the accessible portion of the loop is pulled by a user, loop take-up means mounted in said housing and coupled to said dispensing apparatus for retracting and storing soiled towel from the return path, a towel bed mounted in said housing for accommodating therein a supply of clean towel and having a cam follower surface thereon, said towel bed being disposed in use in a dispensing configuration within said housing for dispensing clean towel therefrom along said exit path when said cover is in the closed position thereof, said towel bed being movable between said dispensing configuration and a loading configuration extending outwardly from said housing when said cover is in the open position thereof to facilitate the loading of clean towel thereinto, and a first cam member carried by said cover and engageable with said cam follower surface on said towel bed for effecting a cammed movement thereof from the loading configuration thereof to the dispensing configuration thereof when said cover is moved from the open position thereof to the closed position thereof, a disc-like second cam member having a spiral cam surface thereon and being mounted adjacent to one end of said measuring roll for rotation therewith, said second cam member extending outwardly only a slight distance beyond the adjacent end of said measuring roll to thereby minimize the width of said housing and facilitate compact construction thereof, a cam follower mounted for engagement with said spiral cam surface and movable thereby transversely thereof during rotation of said second cam member, a stop dog mounted for movement with said cam follower, and a stop member mounted for rotation with said second cam member and having a stop surface adapted to engage said stop dog to halt the rotation of said second cam member when said cam follower has been moved a predetermined distance by said spiral cam surface, whereby the rotation of said measuring roll is stopped after a predetermined number of revolutions corresponding to said predetermined distance while the size of said housing is minimized.
 33. The stop mechanism set forth in claim 25, wherein said predetermined number of revolutions is one revolution for one setting of said adjustable retaining member. 